Reports of horses being slaughtered illegally have given rise to concerns meat could be reaching Maltese consumers via the black market, according to law en-forcement and Veterinary Department sources.
The sources told the Times of Malta the police had been tipped off about the illegal activity possibly taking place at a secluded farm in the outskirts of Siġġiewi. The information supplied indicated that retired race horses were being illegally slaughtered and the meat then sold for consumption.
The matter was first flagged by Nationalist MP Mario Galea who last week blew the whistle on a number of suspected animal rights abuses, including the possible return of dog fighting.
The sources noted that the illegal slaughter of animals raised a series of health concerns, not only because of the questionable hygiene standards during the killing process but also because of the fact that race horses were usually administered performance-enhancing drugs.
The information furnished, the sources continued, indicated that horses could have been killed through asphyxiation, placing a bin bag over their heads and fastening it with a rope at the neck.
“This is particularly cruel because the…
